The Sweet Success of Symeon's: Small Town Eats

What do you get when you take a love for food, a tradition for fine service dating back almost 50 years, throw in a little tzatziki and a guy named Tsoupelis (pronounced SOUP-uh-liss)? You get Symeon's Greek Restaurant, owned and managed by Symeon Tsoupelis Jr.

Symeon's started very small and grew very large in the pantheon of Central New York restaurants. Whether it's souvlaki, mousaka or baklava, Symeon's has it--and lots more authentic Greek goodies.

The Mohawk Valley first enjoyed the restaurant in 1973 when Symeon Sr. and his wife Ann opened their doors on Oneida Street, near the Parkway intersection. A relocation to Genesee Street in 1976 doubled their number of tables and business, and eventually led the restaurant to its current spot on Commercial Drive in Yorkville in 1982.

An expansion on Commercial Drive in 1991 added another dining room and a comfortable lobby where customers could wait for their table. That's where we sat down with Symeon for an on-camera chat (above) about the restaurant's humble beginnings and its success story.

Symeon's is located a 4941 Commercial Drive in Yorkville. They're open seven days a week, and you can order their fine food to go or for delivery. Check out their website.